Public Administration (PUA) MS

Overview

Public Administration is the leadership and management of non-profit and government organizations, programs, and resources.  This program is designed to prepare administrators to effectively serve a public clientele and deliver human-related services and resources.

The program aims to produce not just public sector managers, but leaders in various fields of government and non-profits including healthcare and higher education administrators, transportation officials, social program managers, economic policy analysts, environmental policy advocates, labor union leaders, and more.  Students in the program will learn how to be an effective and skilled leaders in any public orgranization.  The program will prepare students to effectively lead and manage organizations that are responsive to public needs and demands through policy and program development, implementation, and evaluation.

We often find our leaders making tough choices about limited human, fiscal, and material resources.  We also recognize the need to create effective leaders that serve in a socially responsible and ethical manner, especially in an era of government mismanagement and mistrust.  This dynamic reinforces why we must educate and prepare leaders that serve the public.  Through this program students will closely examine their role in shaping our future and make a firm commitment to leadership and public service in their own way.

The instructional program take a multidisciplinary and generalist approach to public administration bringing together areas of leadership and orgranizational development, human resources management, political science, and specialized areas of concentration to form a program that is flexible and inclusive of diverse professional backgrounds within the public sector.

The program aims to prepare students based on expectations set forth by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), referred to Execturive Core Qualifications (ECQ’s); they include leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen, and building coalitions.  By the end of the progrma, our students will be able to relate and apply their professional acadmic, and public service experiences to all the ECQ’s.  In addition, the program is designed to bring theory to practice by integrating knowledge and skills from coursework into practical experience.  As a result, each student must complete an internship and a comprehensive portfolio at the end of the program.

Admissions Requirements

Candidates must submit:

• application for graduate study with non-refundable fee
• official transcript conferring bachelor’s degree (minimum 3.0 GPA) from an accredited institution
• letter of intent (describing professional goals and aspirations as public administrator)
• three letters of recommendation (including at least one faculty member)
• current resume

Program Requirements

• Successful completion of 36 credit hours outlined in curriculum
• Minimum 3.0 gpa
• Successful completion of professional portfolio, presentation, and public service internship.

Curriculum (36 credits)